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Some colleagues passed judgment on its 'violent reputation,' but many spoke of a booming trendsetter, bursting with style and culture. Naturally, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And I can certainly say I wasn't disappointed.

We need a system that is ready to meet the demands of caring for, and keeping our children and young people safe in the 21st Century. A system that recognises everyone's responsibility to protect children.

Sitting amongst some disheartened Welsh, Irish and English, to witness the same genuine excitement and hope that so deeply resonated in Scottish hearts was extremely humbling. There is no doubt that the British people have a common bond, even if it does sometimes take a great game to truly show this. Scotland will always have my heart and Britain will always be my home.

In a concrete hut in the shadow of the Neolithic standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney is a stuffed fish. No ordinary fish, though, as it was the record trout then caught in British waters and weighed 29lb 8 oz. The average trout caught in Stenness Loch, from where it was pulled out, is 1 lb. My gillie for the morning, Stewart Wood, is sceptical, though.

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has made an impressive commitment to children in Scotland. She has staked her political reputation to the aim of eliminating the gap in attaining qualifications between Scotland's richest and poorest children.

To any non-technical person out there, the large and varied tech sector can be intimidating. So when I arrived at my interview with the Chief Technology Officer of Skyscanner, who has a doctorate from Oxford University, I was a bit apprehensive of sounding like an ignorant fool to say the least.

LEOcoin is already leading the way in demonstrating how a secure, internationally tradable currency, existing outside the financial status quo, can galvanise the SME sector. I see no reason why it cannot radically change the way governments do business too. Once the dam is breached we'll likely look back and wonder how we used to do finance any other way.

Steeped in history as rich as the green of the landscape itself, the patriotic setting is enough to stir wanderlust in even the most travel-averse. If you're looking to escape the city and get some fresh air with a punch of perspective but only have a long weekend to do it - the land of Braveheart is calling.

Today marks a symbolic victory for those who believe that an Israeli-Palestinian peace is only possible if both sides are treated as equals. The European Parliament voted yesterday to change the name of its "Delegation for Relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council" to the "Delegation for Relations with Palestine" by 344 votes to 282.

Let RISE fill that void, and give it a chance. Don't wipe them out just yet - wait, follow their campaign trail and you'll see that they're a very much needed breath of fresh air. And, when it comes to your second ballot in May - RISE with us for a better Scotland.

Scotland having the unicorn - yes, the unicorn - as its national animal is quite extraordinary and dates back to the 12th century when it was in the Celtic mythology, but did you know it is not the only country with an interesting national animal?

Ever since its foundation, the Labour party has not been democratic. Rather it has been ruled by the powerful in the form of trade union bosses, its own leadership and the parliamentary party. Its idea of being a 'workers' party' has been more in the Soviet mould than in the mould of European social democracy.

If this is what happens after just three months, the end of this government term may make Thatcherism seem like a kiddies' tea party - except it won't be much of of a party, as more people will come to rely on food banks, more will be made homeless or die due to austerity, which will increase, more vulnerable and disabled people will be forced to look for work that doesn't exist and the NHS will be further pillaged and stripped of value.